German filmmaker Wim Wenders announced that he is removing his 1975 film Wrong Move from circulation due to a scene showing actress Nastassja Kinski topless when she was 13 years old. In a statement released on Wednesday, Wenders directed streaming services, television networks and distribution partners to stop making the film publicly available.
The decision reflects a reconsideration of content from nearly five decades ago, when different standards governed the treatment of young actors on film sets. Wenders acknowledged in his statement that the child actor should have received better protection during the filming process.
Wrong Move was made during the mid-1970s, early in Kinski's career. Born in 1961, Kinski went on to become a significant presence in international cinema. She appeared in numerous notable films throughout the following decades, including the Roman Polanski film Tess and later reunited with Wenders on Paris, Texas, one of his most acclaimed works.
The withdrawal of Wrong Move from official distribution channels controlled by Wenders and his foundation represents a filmmaker taking responsibility for past creative decisions that no longer align with current ethical standards. Film industry practices regarding child protection have evolved substantially since the 1970s, with contemporary standards placing much stricter requirements on the treatment and portrayal of minors in entertainment.
Such withdrawals by creators are relatively uncommon, though they have become somewhat more frequent in recent years as the industry has reassessed older works through a modern lens. The decision removes access to the film through official channels, though copies may exist elsewhere.
Wenders is recognized internationally for his influential body of work in cinema. His films have explored themes of human connection, displacement and perception across multiple decades. The choice to withdraw Wrong Move demonstrates a willingness to reckon with aspects of his filmography that conflict with contemporary understandings of appropriate treatment of child actors.
The scene in question occurred during a period when filmmaking practices were less regulated regarding the involvement of minors, particularly regarding what could be filmed and shown. Current industry standards, union requirements and legal protections have substantially changed since that era, establishing clearer boundaries around the work conditions and on-screen treatment of young performers.
Kinski's early film work, including the problematic scene in Wrong Move, took place under different industry conditions than exist today. Her subsequent career trajectory established her as a respected actress, though the circumstances of her early work in the 1970s have become subject to renewed scrutiny as standards have shifted.
The withdrawal of the film underscores broader questions within the film industry about how to address legacy content that would not be permitted under modern ethical and legal standards.